A music competition, featuring 15 finalist bands of youth neighbourhoods was held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on 13 March 2011. The Katye Paconcert was a vibrant event during which the youth shared with the public their realities, aspirations and messages for the reconstruction and improvement of living conditions in their neighbourhoods… and of course, their numerous talents. This joint initiative by UN-HABITAT/ Haiti and the Association Culturelle Tamise aimed to stimulate emergent artists to express their own vision for the reconstruction of Haiti, which suffered a massive earthquake one year ago, through artistic creation. The event also aimed to promote the youth's aspirations and messages in their communities and among policy and decision makers, and strengthen community participation in the whole reconstruction process. The music competition was also meant to encourage and develop the talents of the youth. The concert, opened by the Minister of Culture and the United Nations Resident Coordinator, was attended by over 1,500 people, among them officials from the Government of Haiti, including the Minister of Public Works, heads of UN agencies, NGOs... and many young and young-at-heart Haitians. It was an opportunity for UN-HABITAT to reiterate the importance of consulting the youth and really listening to their messages for the future of their neighbourhoods, and advocate for the implementation of participatory urban approaches for the whole reconstruction process. The concert was broadcast live on the National Haitian TV and in Champ de Mars (the biggest camps right in the middle of the city centre) to share the visions of the youth with the people of Port-au-Prince and the country as a whole. The intention was also to send a message of hope to the hundreds of thousands people still living in tents, more than one year after the earthquake. The Jury selected three laureates: V-Ten, Lord's Power and Nirva Jean. The main areas of concern and recommendations expressed by the young artists in their songs relate to social peace (82.7%), social cohesion (77.7%), socialization spaces/ facilities (76.2%), education (68.8%), cleanness and maintenance (64.9%), and access to basic services (64.4%). UN-HABITAT will continue supporting the translation of the youths' messages into decision making and especially strategic urban plans being developed for the reconstruction. To listen to the 15 finalist songs, please go to:
http://www.tamise.org/katye-pam-lalbum-disponible-a-lecoute/#more-718
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